Pyroraptor was a dromaeosaur, a small, bird-like predatory theropod that possessed enlarged curved, slashing claws on the second toe of each foot. Each of these claws were 6.5 centimeters (2.5 in) long. The first and only identified specimen was found in the south of France, in Provence, and is known only from a few bones, named Pyroraptor olympius by Allain and Taquet in 2000. The name means "Mount Olympus fire thief", because its remains were discovered after a forest fire. The type specimen consists of the distinctive foot claws, as well as fossilized teeth, arm and back bones. It lived during the Cretaceous, 70 million years ago.
In popular culture
- Pyroraptor was featured in one episode of the television program Dinosaur Planet, in which an individual Pyroraptor named "Pod" is swept onto an island dominated by dwarf members of familiar dinosaur families.
- Pyroraptor is featured in Jurassic World: The Game. While it is accurately portrayed with a coat of feathers, it is shown inaccurately to be able to pronate it's hands.